Science Rhymes eNewsletter #18 September 2018

View this email in your browser

Reinvention: Dragonflies & butterflies are visually gorgeous. But more amazing is the transformations they went through to get there! “Who would deduce the dragonfly from the larva … all shape-shifters and magical reinventors” wrote Diane Ackerman. Poetry never tires of the beauty of life.

High Performance
by Celia Berrell

If I could fly for just a day
by dragonfly would be the way.

An insect bi-plane in the sky
that hums and swoops and whizzes by.
It's like a hot-rod motor car
that speeds at fifty miles an hour.
Reverse, good brakes, it's got the lot,
and even hovers on the spot.

I met one resting on a twig
beside a swamp and strangler fig.
Its body glossy, brightest red
with segments ribbed from tail to head.
Four see-through wings that spangled light
and headlamp eyes that bulged so bright.

A showroom speciality
with only four month's warranty.

First published in the Tropical Writers Anthology "Category Five" 2011.

Free Family Event

The fifth PICTURE BOOK POETRY PARTY, at the Holiday Inn Cairns Harbourside on Sunday 21st October 2-3pm, is going to be a buzz! Showcasing local children's author Deanna Henderson (of Minibeast Wildlife fame) and featuring students reciting entertaining poems about Science and Insects. With no entry fee, we just ask that you to bring a copy of a favourite Picture-Book in order to go into a draw for a prize from Collins Booksellers Smithfield or Minibeast Wildlife. We take a photo of our Picture-Book Collection, then you take your treasured picture-book home again. Please share this POETRY PARTY INVITATION with friends!

BOOK LAUNCH

My mentor, Associate Professor Hilary Whitehouse (left) helped launch The Science Rhymes Book (Second Edition) at the Cairns Tropical Writers Festival on Friday 10th August (2.30pm), along with illustrator Margaret Askew (right) and poem presenters from Whitfield State School (bottom right). Many thanks to all the people who helped make this happen - from festival organisers, parents, students and many friends! The book is now available through Jabiru Publishing, Harleys Educational, Collins Booksellers Smithfield and Edmonton Post Office ($14.99).

Website Changes

Making your visit more enjoyable: the Science Rhymes smartphone-friendly format is complete, with a few tweaks to the computer-screen version too!

INSECT POEMS

Can you write a poem about insects for a poetry anthology by The Emma Press for 5th October?
Click here for more details.

PIGGY POEMS

Last year, my dear friend Dr Peter Heise-Pavlov died. His memoir (2009), included a selection of Science Rhymes about pigs. And now those Piggy Poems have been given a new home at Porkopolis. It was an honour to recite Autopsy at the Cairns Tropical Writers Festival in memory of Peter "Piggy" Heise-Pavlov and in celebration of "The Best Loved Pig Poetry" edited by Porkopolis webmaster Mark E Schultz.

Meeting ET at the Cairns Aquarium

by Kaya (Whitfield State School)

This porcupine fish can change personality.
From small, shy and cute, to puffed-up-all-angrily.
Oh ET you have such big eyes,
they make it so hard to say goodbye.
I wonder. Have you met ET?
If not, I think you'd better see me.

This porcupine fish melts hearts every day.
A Diodon Globefish and species of ray.
Oh ET you have so much love to share
In Cairns Aquarium we can't help but stare.
If all of you go, please say "Hello".
Oh ET I love you so!

Would you like to see your own poem on the internet?
If you have written a short poem about science, nature or the environment, send it to feedback@sciencerhymes.com.au for consideration to be posted on Your Science Poems.

Previous eNewsletters:

Best Wishes,
Celia

Facebook

Website

Twitter